Applicator device



May 8, 1962 J. J. WALsHAUsER APPLICATOR DEVICE Filed Oct. 12, 1960ooooooo O OOOOOOO oo oooooo OO O OOOO United States Patent G 3,032,803APPLICATOR DEVICE Joseph John Walshauser, 4074 Wilmington, St. Louis 16,Mo. Filed Oct. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 62,192 2 Claims. (Cl. 15--578) Thisinvention relates to an applicator for a dispensing device and moreparticularly to an applicator adapted for fluids or semi-liuidsdischarged under pressure from a pressurized dispensing container. Oneobvious application of this invention is here illustrated as applied todispensing containers for aerated shaving creams, lotions or the like.The first example, self-forming shaving creams or soap, is illustrative.When using these pressurized products, especially shaving soap or cream,it is necessary to spread the foam around with the fingers. Oneprocedure is to discharge the foaming lather on the finger tips rst andthen spread it on the skin. Of course, it would be much more convenientif `the foaming shaving cream discharged could be applied directly fromthe pressurized can or container to the skin in the first place, and inthe second place, this would be especially desirable if the pressure inthe container could be used to form the uniform layer of foam on theskin. To my knowledge, there is no known device for satisfactorilyperforming this function, and especially none which operate to form theuniform layer by utilizing the pressure in the can or container.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an applicatoradapted to dispensers with pressurized contents which will deposit auniform layer under pressure.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an applicatorwhich utilizes the pressure in the dispenser to deposit a uniform layer.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide anapplicator adapted to dispensers of pressurized shaving cream or soapwhich utilize the pressure discharge from the container to form auniform layer of foam on the skin.

-Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description which is in such full, clear and exactterms as will enable one skilled in the art to make and use theinvention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof, and in which:

PIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a device according to thisinvention while being used;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view with parts of the applicator brokenaway and shown in section so as to illustrate the linternal constructionand operation; and

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 2.

Turning now to F-IG. 1 of the drawings, the can 10 contains thepressurized soap or shaving cream. The top of the can has securedthereto a valve 20 operated by a button 21 for controlling the dischargeof foam from a nozzle 22. This invention is a unitary device 40 whichhas an adapter 25.

With reference to IFIG. Z, especially, the applicator 40 is preferablylmade of a fiexible rubber-like material so that when the adapter 25 istelescoped over the dispensing spout 22, a tight joint will be formedpreventing leakage. Within the adapter 25 is a flexible walled expansionchamber 26 into which the foaming lather is discharged from the spout 22when the button 21 is depressed. Chamber 26 modulates the dischargevelocity from the spout 22 so as to slow down the flow, and this effectis further aided by the baille 27 at the entrance to the angular relatedpassage 28. At the discharge end 29 of the passage 28 is a directionalvalve 30. This valve like other parts of the applicator 40 is also ofrubber-like Mice material so as to be resilient. One side of the valveis integrally connected with the body of the applicator to form a sortof hinged joint 31, such as shown more clearly in FIG. 3. The valve :30operates to and from a suitable seat 33 which is arcuate and correspondsto the outline of the valve 30.

On the active face 35 of the applicator '40 are a plurality of soft,flexible nubs or fingers, generally indicated as 36, which may bearranged in a pattern more clearly illustrated in lFIG. 3. Theparticular pattern in which the fingers or nubs 36 are arranged is notparticularly material, except that the arrangement should be one toprovide a plurality of tortuous passages across the active face 35 ofthe applicator 40. The discharge of lather foam, therefore, is from thespout 22 to the expansion chamber 26 around the bafiie 27 and throughthe passage 28 to the directional valve 30. The pressure on the passageside of the valve 3() causes the valve to hinge about 31 and direct thefoaming lather through the tortuous passageways between the fingers ornubs 36 across the active `face 35' of the applicator, all as shown inFIG. 2, for example. One of the purposes of the expansion chamber 26,the bafiie 27 and the valve 30 is to modulate the flow from thedischarge nozzle 22 to retain the liow confined until it passes thevalve 60, so that the foaming action of the lather will be partiallydelayed until it passes the valve 30 and will, therefore, take placeabout the fingers 36 as it flows through the tortuous passages betweenthem. Valve 30* is specifically designed so as to direc-t the foamingaction from one edge of the applicator 40 toward the opposite edge.

In operation, the can 10 is held in the hand of the user, as shown inFIG. 1, button 21 is depressed by the foreiinger or thumb while theapplicator 40 is held adjacent the face of the user. As the `foam beginsto burst forth from the valve 30 upwardly through the lingers 36, theapplicator is moved slowly across the cheek of the user thereby forminga uniform layer of foamlather `for shaving. Since the ends of thefingers 36 are held adjacent or in contact with the skin, the foaminglather issuing from the valve 301 will disperse in all directionsthrough the tortuous passages between the fingers 36, but primarily thedirection in which the foam will flow is away from the Valve `30 due tothe direction in which the valve is open. Now if the applicator is movedover the skin in the same direction as the foam issues from the valve30', a smooth uniform layer of foam will be deposited regardless of thepressure within the can 10, since the pressure in any case is modulatedby the expansion chamber 26 and the tortuous passages @between thefingers 36 to reduce the velocity of iiow and at the same time toconfine the foaming action to the active surface of the applicator 35and between this active surface and the skin. This means that themaximum benefit of the foaming lather is obtained by the user since theaction takes place adjacent the skin and not on the fingers as in priormethods of application.

With the button 21 depressed, the applicator is moved smoothly over theskin at a uniform rate depositing strips of foaming lather of uniformthickness suitable for shaving. At the same time, the foaming action isconfined adjacent to the skin at the bottom of the whiskers where theactual cutting will be done by the razor so that no subsequent rubbingin or massaging of the lather is necessary -to obtain uniform,comfortable shaving results.

Changes in and modifications of the construction described may be madewithout departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing itsadvantages.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispensing device including in combination a dispensing type ofapplicator for fluids or semi-fluids which are discharged under pressureto produce a foam, a pressurized container for storage of the fluids anda valve controlled outlet from said pressurized container to saidapplicator, the improvement comprising, a bendable disklike applicator-body of flexible rubber-like material having a normally planar activesurface and a discharge opening in said active surface, means on saidapplicator ybody forming an inlet connection -to the valve controlledoutlet on said container, a discharge passage from said inlet connectionto said discharge opening in sai-d active surface, a valve seat in saidoutlet, a directional valve operating on said valve seat and opening Ainresponse to pressure to discharge along said active face, `and aplurality of spaced projections in the form of flexible lingers ofuniform length projecting from said active face surrounding said outletand acting as a spacing means between said active face and a surface towhich the foam is applied, said flexible ngers being arranged in apattern to form a plurality of continuous tortuous passages extendingtherebetween and over said active face in a plurality of directions awayfrom said valve and outlet into which the foam can expand to `form alayer corresponding in thickness to said spacing means as the fluid isdischarged and the applicator is moved along the surface on which thefoam is applied.

2. A dispensing device as defined in the preceding claim in which saiddischarge passage from said inlet connection includes an expansionchamber located between said inlet connection and said dischargeopening.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,196,379 Bender Apr. 9, 1940 2,232,140 Rupp Feb. 18, 1941 2,772,922Boyd et al Dec. 4, 1956 2,849,737 Piccinini et al Sept. 2, 19582,897,526 Dootson Aug. 4, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 483,135 Italy Iuly 17,1953 new#

